Doors locked themselves, while the family would to find toys mysteriously scattered across the floor.

Then, chillingly, a family friend’s child visited.

After leaving the home he said: “Mum monsters are not scary – there was a big fat man in there.”

But the creepiest events were yet to come.

In scenes reminiscent of horror flim The Exorcist, Kirsty believes the spirits used then one-year-old Kyran’s body to communicate – even changing the toddler’s voice.

“I was in bed and Kyran woke up hysterical and I said he sounds possessed’,” said Mrs Lee.

“I went into his room and he looked terrified so I brought him into my room – he basically stopped crying, looked up at us and another voice came from him and clear as day said ‘I don’t know’ then started laughing.” He would continue waking up at night, throwing up and refusing to sleep in the room.

She then called in a paranormal investigator known as Spooky Julie.

Her team, from Stockton’s Gifted and Blessed, claimed they found the vortex which allowed spirits to come and go from the room as they pleased.

And the eight-person investigation team found the ghostly goings-on were the work of a spirit and his family.

“He was a bully apparently and his kids were scared of him,” added Mr Lee.

“He must have been the bad one in the relationship, which had been violent, and apparently he had been stabbed.”

The family unsuccessfully tried to find out more about the man, who may have been dead for decades.

“They must have all been in this house for a reason,” added the dad.

“But there are more to ghosts than meet the eye.” Following last year’s seance, the family say they are no longer being visited by any spirits.

But for Mrs Lee, the experience has opened her eyes to the spirit world, adding: “I have never seen one or felt one – but I believe in them.”